Friends of Beebe Spur,
Thank you for joining this battle to save the Beebe Spur bike path and protect 4 miles of cross-country ski trail that has been regularly groomed by Memphremagog Trails for over 25 years. It is a cherished asset to our community and regularly used by hundreds and hundreds from near and far away.
Our fight is now well under way:
- To date 790 of you have signed our Change.org Petition.
- Our Proposed Resolution was passed unanimously without change by the Newport City Council.
- Our Proposed Resolution was passed unanimously by the Derby Town select board with an amendment. They declared their general opposition to snowmobiles on the Beebe Spur with the exception of local abutters using it to access the VAST Trail system.
- We now turn to VTrans and the Vermont legislature for either a regulatory amendment or a legislative amendment.
- We will be seeking to meet with Jackie Cassino of VTrans to discuss amendments to its regulations related to the Beebe Spur.
- And we have already begun reaching out to area legislators and the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees.
Here's how you can help.
- Encourage friends and family to sign the Petition. Although 790 signers is a pretty darn powerful statement, we want to get to 1,000 to help spread the word to your friends.
- Contact your legislators by phone and/or by email. Encourage them to ban all snowmobiles on this 4-mile stretch of groomed cross-country ski trail. (We will be sending them copies of the Resolutions, Some photographs and maps and proposed legislation.) Here's the list:
House/Senate Email Phone District
Richard Nelson rnelson@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Orleans - 1
Woody Page wpage@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Orleans - 2
Kenny Wells kwells@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Orleans - 3
Russ Ingalls ringalls@leg.state.vt.us (802) 828-2228 Senator
John Morley john.morley@vtleg.gov (802) 828-2228 Senator
3. Help us to monitor the use of the bike path this winter. Take pictures of the groomed trail. Take pictures of the impact of snowmobiles on grooming. Take pictures and videos of young families skiing, of Koch leaguers skiing, high school cross country skiing, Seniors skiing, skate skiers skiing. Dog walkers, snowshoers, and fat bikers. Here's a link to a shared google album you can upload your pictures to Beebe Spur Bike Path and Cross Country Ski Trail.
We have a website clearing house containing letters, pictures, videos, legislative information, petitions, petition metrics and information e.g., blunt injuries to people caused by snowmobiles. The website is newportsos.com for Newport Save Our Spur. This website will be updated periodically with useful information, pictures/videos, latest legislative information and the metrics on the petition signing.
Enjoy the snow!
Happy New Year.